DOOMSDAY CLOCK STILL AT TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT﻿

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which informs the public about risks from nuclear weapons, climate change and disruptive technologies, today maintained its “Doomsday Clock” at 2 Minutes to Midnight. In their view, as regards nuclear weapons, the abatement of the Korean crisis is balanced by dangerous posturing and the undermining of arms control measures by the nuclear-armed states.

In
her speech at the Bulletin’s press conference Sharon Squassoni of
George Washington University acknowledged the importance of the
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and said that the
nuclear-armed states will “ignore it at their peril”. Also today,
St. Lucia became the 20th state to ratify the TPNW. 70
states have already signed the Treaty, the first step in acceding to
it.

In
a statement UN House Scotland said:

“As
a partner of ICAN, we at UN House Scotland are disappointed that the
Doomsday Clock continues to place our global threat at two minutes to
midnight, as a result of world leaders failing to adequately address
the most pressing challenges facing our world today. Leaders must act
on their commitments from the Paris Agreement and the recent COP 24
in order to make significant developments in reducing the impacts of
climate change. The continued proliferation of nuclear weapons also
leaves us deeply alarmed by the certain humanitarian catastrophe
which their use, or a related accident, would present.”

“This
evidence-led and meticulously researched warning comes from
scientists the world over. Elimination through the prohibition
advocated by the new UN Treaty On The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,
is the only rational answer. Scotland has made its position clear;
since 1982 from the Peace Camp, through devolution and a Scottish
Parliament that votes for nuclear disarmament to the First Minister’s
clear message to the Nobel Peace prize ceremony when ICAN won it for
it work on that treaty, “No ifs and no buts …We say no to nuclear
weapons on the River Clyde or anywhere else.” The UK could learn
and choose a safer way.”

Campaigners against nuclear weapons recognise the underlying risk that has existed consistently since the the 1950s (particularly the danger of accidental triggering). The risks are now enhanced by the irresponsible and erratic behaviour by leaders of the nuclear-armed states, by the compliance of other nuclear-endorsing countries, by the increased fragility of arms control measures, and by the threat of increased conflict provoked by climate breakdown.